I consider myself a pizza connoisseur (self-proclaimed). My family gets pizza and watches a movie almost every Friday, which happened to be a wonderful little tradition we started during the pandemic. Getting through a week of online school and work felt like a momentous feat each week so we would celebrate! The tradition stuck around and it’s one of our favorite things. The reason I claim to be a pizza connoisseur is that we don’t have the same pizza each Friday- we constantly mix it up! We will drive far distances for a good pizza, are excited to try a new spot, and love to debate and discuss memorable pizza pies.
You might be surprised to learn the Lansing Area has great pizza! National Pizza Day is February 9th and to make this year a great one, I rounded up a list of some unique pizza options in and around the Lansing Area. These aren’t your usual hand-tossed, build-your-own pizzas, they each bring something different that will make you want to eat pizza for dinner tonight!
Art’s Pub
809 E. Kalamazoo Street, Lansing
Art’s has great bar food with a breakfast menu that’s available all day. However, their pizza is not your usual slice! This is the place for a cheese lover! I want to start with their Dragon Bread, which is cheese bread taken to the next level. You won’t believe how cheesy, buttery, and garlicky these breadsticks are. Get both ranch and marinara for dipping- they are homemade and beyond yummy.
When it comes to the pizza, they have many specialty options that you don’t see everywhere including the Paddy’s Pie with sauerkraut, pickles, and Swiss cheese or Huevos Rancheros breakfast pizza with refried beans, chorizo, queso, salsa, and sunny side eggs. This is a great place to try something new! If you’re craving a more standard pizza, their build-your-own pizzas are amazing and loaded with So. Much. Cheese. When I have a hankering for cheese, you better believe I’m ordering from Art’s!
City Limits
801 Cedar Street, Mason
We all probably know City Limits for their bowling, large arcade, and really great food. However, this pizza-eater wants to share something great on their menu that you may not always think to order: The City Limits 5 Cheese Bread. To say it is tasty is a grave understatement. It is packed with flavor and comes with hefty servings of ranch and marinara that are both delicious. Another reason why I love it is that you can order a twelve- or sixteen-inch size. This bread is a crowd-pleaser every time! Order it the next time you go bowling or get it to-go and enjoy it at home. As a sidebar, their pizza is so good as well- the BBQ chicken is a highlight for me!
Cugino’s
306 S. Bridge Street, Grand Ledge
Cugino’s is a wonderful Italian restaurant right in the heart of downtown Grand Ledge. I always hear people raving about their pastas and main courses, but their pizza is among the best pizza I’ve ever had (and I’ve had a LOT). I want to highlight two of my favorite items. The first is their Chicago-style pizza. It is a deep dish with plenty of sauce on top and a crunchy bottom crust that is out of this world. We are so lucky to have such good Chicago-style pizza so close to us! Also, their home-made breadsticks (we always get them with cheese) are huge and delicious. The leftovers of both the pizza and breadsticks taste just as good the next day as when they are fresh. Cugino’s is about thirty minutes from my house, and we gladly drive to get this pizza and look forward to it each time.
Fat Boys Pizza
2040 N. Aurelius Road, Holt
Fat Boys has been a Holt staple since 1990. I love that it’s the only location and has consistently made amazing pizza for all those years. I find Fat Boys to be a unique choice in the Lansing Area because of how good their gourmet pizzas are. A stand-out is their Marco Polo Alfredo pizza. The combination of the alfredo sauce, mushrooms, and chicken is beyond tasty! Another is their Judy’s Salad Pizza. There are so many yummy salad toppings, you will barely know you’re eating a pizza! You can also buy pizza dough from Fat Boys to make your own pizza at home.
Spagnolo’s
662 W. Grand River, Okemos
If you’ve lived in the Lansing Area for many years, you may recall a favorite pizza: DeLuca’s. We all miss that pizza and if you get a craving, head to Spagnolo’s in Okemos. They have a thicker crust pizza with a sweeter-tasting sauce that is among the best of the best. Spagnolo’s pizza pie goes up to a sixteen-inch size and is cut so that you have both triangle and square slices, which is a small detail that brings this pizza-eater so much joy. They have many specialty pizzas and calzones to choose from. This is an Italian family-owned restaurant, and they know how to make an amazing pizza (as well as many other delicious Italian dishes).
Toarmina’s
2011 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing & 3700 S. Waverly Road, Lansing
If you want to feed a large crowd or your very hungry family, Toarmina’s is the place! They have a special twenty-four-inch round pizza that is not only delicious, but a conversation piece all on its own. The pizza box it comes in will barely fit through a door frame. The size alone makes it a unique pizza! In addition, they also have a 24×12 deep dish pizza, which has to be one of the biggest deep-dish options I’ve seen. If you’re looking for a solid specialty pizza, Toarmina’s has that too. From a mac and cheese pizza to a meatless plant-based pizza, there are many options for any taste buds. Their cheesy bread is also amazing, and they have house-made ranch, which is always a bonus in our book.
I hope as you plan to enjoy National Pizza Day with your family or maybe just another night where a to-go pizza hits the spot, you’ll try one of these places! Each brings a unique perspective on the beloved pizza pie and will help you appreciate the great pizza options we have in Lansing. What are some other unique pizza spots in Lansing that you enjoy? Share them in the comments below! We are always ready to find a next great pizza!
